Abstract: Use of a foamed geopolymer as a fire-resistant sealant material, a method of sealing an aperture or cavity for housing services in a building comprising (i) applying a curable foamed geopolymer composition to the aperture or cavity; and (ii) curing the foamed geopolymer composition, thereby creating a seal in the aperture or cavity; and wherein the cured foamed geopolymer has fire-resistant properties, and a kit of parts for preparing a foamed geopolymer for use as a fire-resistant sealant material, comprising (i) a container holding a dry mixture of components suitable for preparing a foamed geopolymer including a blowing agent and (ii) a container holding an aqueous alkaline liquid mixture of components suitable for preparing a geopolymer.

Abstract: A mineral polymer for reducing pollutants, in particular for gas absorbing, absorbing pollutant volatile organic compounds such as volatile organic hydrocarbons and/or capturing particulate pollutants. The mineral polymer may be a metakaolin-based mineral polymer with a porous or non-porous structure. The use of the mineral polymer for reducing pollutants includes for absorbing one or more pollutant gases, such as NOx (such as NO2), SOx (such as SO2) and/or CO2, for absorbing pollutant volatile organic compounds such as volatile organic hydrocarbons and/or for capturing particulate pollutants, such as those produced by diesel engines. The pollutants are removed directly from the engine exhaust, from a ventilation system, or at the road side. A method for reducing pollutants comprises the steps: (i) providing the mineral polymer; (ii) exposing said mineral polymer to one or more pollutants; and optionally, (iii) regenerating the capability of the mineral polymer to reduce pollutants.

Abstract: Technologies for assessing, quantifying and isolating sperm cell populations and/or subpopulations having specific genetic signatures are provided, as well as methods and systems to assess the efficacy of chromosomal differentiation processes. Compositions for identification and differentiation of X-chromosomes and Y-chromosomes in DNA are also provided.

Abstract: A truck bed stop, including a bottom base; an upper base, hingedly attached to the bottom base; one or more attachment points disposed on the upper base portion; and one or more attachment rods, wherein a first end of one of the one or more attachment rods is configured to attach to one of the one or more attachment points disposed on the upper base and a second end of the one of the one or more attachment rods is configured to attach to one of one or more secondary anchor points, and wherein the one or more attachment rods are configured to hold the upper base in an angled position relative to the bottom base.

Abstract: Use of a geopolymer in a coating composition for a building construction component, a coated component for use in building construction wherein the coating comprises a geopolymer, a method of coating a component comprising applying a curable geopolymer mixture to a surface of the component and curing the mixture to form a cured geopolymer coating, and the use of a geopolymer as a mortar.

Abstract: Commercial supersonic aircraft and associated systems and methods. A representative commercial supersonic aircraft includes a fuselage configured to carry a crew and between 20 and 60 passengers, a delta wing mounted to the fuselage, and a propulsion system carried by at least one of the wing and the fuselage, the propulsion system including a plurality of engines, at least one variable-geometry inlet, and at least one variable-geometry nozzle.

Abstract: A bag has a front panel, a back panel, and a gusset, each having a thermoplastic ply at its interior face. The interior face of the gusset is thermally welded to the interior face of the front panel and back panel at respective joins from which extend respective panel extensions which are also thermally welded to each other at a third join. Extensions of the gusset cover parts of the respective panels and are thermally welded to them. Other parts of the panel extensions are not covered by the gusset extensions and are welded to each other to form the third join. The extensions can form a handle part for the bag.

Abstract: Use of a geopolymer in a coating composition for a building construction component, a coated component for use in building construction wherein the coating comprises a geopolymer, a method of coating a component comprising applying a curable geopolymer mixture to a surface of the component and curing the mixture to form a cured geopolymer coating, and the use of a geo polymer as a mortar.

Abstract: A downhole hydraulic control tool comprising a substantially tubular body adapted for connection in a tubing string, the body including a throughbore arranged coaxially with a bore of the tubing string and one or more pockets arranged on a wall of the body, the pockets including a hydraulic power source and at least two control lines, wherein the device includes a pump to drive hydraulic fluid through the control lines and a switchable flow mechanism for switching the flow of pumped fluid between the at least two control lines, and a switchable flow mechanism and a method of operating one or more downhole devices from a downhole located hydraulic control tool.

Abstract: A process for producing alumina trihydrate includes a digestion step, a separation step, and a precipitation step the separation step including: b1) pretreating a slurry from the digestion step by adding a flocculant to said slurry and mixing the flocculant and the slurry, b2) settling the resulting flocculated slurry in a gravity settler vessel, b3) determining a measured value representative of the concentration of solid particles in the resulting clarified liquor, b4) comparing the measured value with a predetermined threshold, b5) feeding said clarified liquor directly to the precipitation step, while the measured value is less than said predetermined threshold, and b6) redirecting said clarified liquor to the pre-treatment step b1), when the measured value is more than said predetermined threshold. An installation may be configured for operating said process.

Abstract: A settler for decanting mineral slurries includes a tank having a side wall, a bottom and a top, an outlet for a thickened slurry at the bottom of the tank, a first overflow outlet for withdrawing an overflow stream of a clarified liquid, a slurry inlet means for introducing fresh slurry into the tank, the slurry inlet means having a slurry opening through which fresh slurry joins a body of slurry in the tank, and a stirrer having a vertical axis around which the stirrer rotates or reciprocates, in said settler the slurry opening is displaced laterally relative to said vertical axis of the stirrer and said slurry inlet means comprises mixing means. A separation installation includes the above settler and a method for separating a clarified liquid from a thickened slurry of a mineral slurry.

Abstract: A “Linguistic Complexity Tool” uses Machine Learning (ML) based techniques to predict “source complexity scores” for localization of source language assets or resources (i.e., “source content”), or subsections of that content, to provide users with predicted levels of difficulty in localizing source content into target languages, dialects, or linguistic styles. These predicted source complexity scores provide a number of advantages, including but not limited to, improved user efficiency and user interaction performance by identifying source content, or subsections of that content, that are likely to be difficult or time consuming for users to localize. Further, these source complexity scores enable users to modify source content prior to localization to provide lower source complexity scores, thereby reducing error rates with respect to localized text or language presented in software applications or other media including, but not limited to, spoken or written localizations of the source content.

Abstract: Use of a foamed geopolymer as a fire-resistant sealant material, a method of sealing an aperture or cavity for housing services in a building comprising (i) applying a curable foamed geopolymer composition to the aperture or cavity; and (ii) curing the foamed geopolymer composition, thereby creating a seal in the aperture or cavity; and wherein the cured foamed geopolymer has fire-resistant properties, and a kit of parts for preparing a foamed geopolymer for use as a fire-resistant sealant material, comprising (i) a container holding a dry mixture of components suitable for preparing a foamed geopolymer including a blowing agent and (ii) a container holding an aqueous alkaline liquid mixture of components suitable for preparing a geopolymer.

Abstract: Peripheral blood markers are provided whose expression levels correlate with smoking status. Predictive models developed using highly informative markers are disclosed, along with systems, kits, and methods for using the markers to provide a biochemical surrogate for a subject's smoking status. In some embodiments, the smoking-related disease is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer, and/or asthma.

Abstract: A bag has a front panel, a back panel, and a gusset, each having a thermoplastic ply at its interior face. The interior face of the gusset is thermally welded to the interior face of the front panel and back panel at respective joins from which extend respective panel extensions which are also thermally welded to each other at a third join. Extensions of the gusset cover parts of the respective panels and are thermally welded to them. Other parts of the panel extensions are not covered by the gusset extensions and are welded to each other to form the third join. The extensions can form a handle part for the bag.

Abstract: A bag made of plastic film suitable for pouring has first and second side panels and back and bottom gussets extending between the panels. Margins at front and top edges of the first side panel join margins at front and top edges of the second side panel at a first seam. A bottom margin of the back gusset joins a rear margin of the bottom gusset at a second seam with the back gusset terminating at a top, rear part of the first seam and the bottom gusset terminating at a bottom, front part of the first seam. A part of the bag film material integral with the back gusset and rear parts of the first and second side panels is formed as a handle at the rear of the bag. A closeable pouring device is integrated into a top front part of the first seam.

Abstract: A bag has a front panel, a back panel, and a gusset panel. Either or both of the front panel and the gusset panel at one side has an extension, and either or both of the back panel and the gusset panel at the other side has an extension. The extensions are welded together at outer margins thereof so that the width of the combined extensions is greater than the width of the gusset panel. The extensions are formed with carrying apertures.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, at a component of a multimedia content distribution system, a command including blackout information related to a first version of content. The blackout information includes scheduling information. The method includes updating a first entry within a control matrix based on the blackout information in response to the command. The first entry includes information related to when the first version of the content in a first stream is to be blacked out based on the scheduling information. The method also includes updating a second entry within the control matrix based on the blackout information in response to the command. The second entry includes information related to when the second version of the content in a second stream is to be blacked out based on the scheduling information. The method also includes sending a control stream based on the control matrix to one or more set top boxes.

Abstract: A downhole hydraulic control tool comprising a substantially tubular body adapted for connection in a tubing string, the body including a throughbore arranged coaxially with a bore of the tubing string and one or more pockets arranged on a wall of the body, the pockets including a hydraulic power source and at least two control lines, wherein the device includes a pump to drive hydraulic fluid through the control lines and a switchable flow mechanism for switching the flow of pumped fluid between the at least two control lines, and a switchable flow mechanism and a method of operating one or more downhole devices from a downhole located hydraulic control tool.